New Zealand clinch last-ball thriller

Perennial dark horses in New Zealand faces the unpredictable defending champions Pakistan in a must-win Super Eight match of Group E today.

salman score half centuary but does't save pakistan from defeat

Both teams come from losses in their first Super Eight matches and would be desperate to bring his campaign back on track. While New Zealand gave their first defeat of the tournament favorites for the title South Africa, Pakistan was overshadowed by England.

Both teams face identical problems. The batting line-ups of both sides are fragile and highly dependent on a few power hitters, that can not be expected to deliver in every match.

Here the defense of their crown with a new-look team, after some prominent names were banned for indiscipline and Pakistan have been at the height of his reputation of being consistently inconsistent.

On the way to the Super Eight, beat minnows Bangladesh but lost to Australia after that. At the start of the tournament, were stunned by Zimbabwe in a scrimmage.

Shahid Afridi, Pattern has not lived up to all its nickname ‘Boom Boom Afridi, “so far, while Misbah-ul Haq experienced continued his career with the bat sterile.

His vaunted bowling attack has not made much of an impact either man and the comeback of Mohammad Asif, who was being invoked as a pacemaker strike, had to be dropped due to lack of form.

Fielding was not the force of Pakistan Waqar Younis and coach was very vocal in his criticism of the effort last night. The champion fell five sacks and Jan was difficult to hide his frustration.

“It can be very frustrating, the way that dropped catches and how he sent,” the legendary rhythm.

New Zealand, meanwhile, have their own problems to deal with. Both his victories in the preliminary phase narrows and bowling has been a disappointment in death, especially extension.

Pace spearhead Shane Bond is struggling and it is imperative that strikes so soon to complement captain Daniel Vettori leg spin inspiring.

In front of batting slump Brendon McCullum is a concern in mind how the Kiwis trust him to a good start.

But despite the shortcomings, New Zealand have always been known to produce more of what is expected of them. The dark horses are more often then not based on sheer determination to follow through and mark at least the semifinals of the big tournaments.

Pakistan has suffered four include the two played by the two countries in the ICC World Twenty20.

New Zealand and Synthesis of Results from Pakistan in Twenty20 International

Played Won Lost Tied% Winning NR

18-3 New Zealand 36 15 45.83
Pakistan 33 23 9-1 71.21

New Zealand and Synthesis of Results from Pakistan in the second ICC Twenty20

New Zealand July 14 7 – – 50.00
Pakistan 17 5 to 1 November 67.64

Approaching milestones:

– Misbah-ul-Haq (362) requires 38 runs to become the first batsman added 400 runs for Pakistan in the ICC World Twenty20.

– Brendon McCullum (274) needs 26 homers to become the first batsman to amass 300 runs by New Zealand ICC World Twenty20.

– Shahid Afridi (38) requires two windows to become the second bowler to complete 40 or more wickets in Twenty20 International. Umur Gul has a record for the highest wicket-aggregate, with wickets from 43 to 12.81 runs apiece in 26 games.